Moto Rush Reborn is a reimagining of a small indie game called Moto Rush GT, released a handful of years ago to middling success. Whilst it featured a neat gameplay loop based around running with a motorcycle at high speeds through intense traffic (a loop shared with this new iteration), it didn’t make too much of an impact due to a generic art style, and sadly, just sheer bad luck. Developer Baltoro Games knew they had something special on their hands, and didn’t want to give up so easily. Moto Rush Reborn revamps its predecessor’s simple, arcadey gameplay loop with improved performance, collectibles, and a new art style to boot.

It might not look like there’s not a lot of cars onscreen at once, but the game is so fast that it still poses a challenge, regardless.

The gameplay loop in question is a genius concept, because it’s just so simple. You’re driving an automatically accelerating motorcycle through intense traffic in a Shuto Expressway-like setting, avoiding traffic, and occasionally overcoming obstacles like jumps and short entries. In essence, Moto Rush Reborn is Temple Run, but on a bike. And in first person. And I guess a more cyberpunkish take on it. It’s the kind of game that is incredibly easy to pick up and play, very hard to master, and whilst as shallow as a puddle, it makes up for it by being a perfect fit for short, ten minute-esque play sessions. That makes the Switch version of it the perfect fir for its overall structure.

Some levels are set inside the metro system… on the wrong way.

Even if it’s a bit repetitive in terms of gameplay, visuals and music (none of those are bad, there’s just not a lot of variety), shorter play sessions make everything feel more novel and interesting. The main campaign mode, which divides the story in small levels, features some additional collectibles and a constant addition of traps and features for you to pay attention to, so there’s always something new to experience, even if a bit minute. Furthermore, an endless mode gives Moto Rush Reborn that small boost in replayability, completely welcome in a game like this.

You can speed up by… performing a wheelie. Doesn’t make a lot of sense but let’s keep it this way.

What you see in Moto Rush Reborn is what you get. It features a very specific set of controls, a neat cyberpunk aesthetic, and a gameplay loop that won’t set the world of fire, but is perfect in small bursts. Be it for you to seek for a higher score, or for that missing collectible in Chapter 6, it’s a fantastic experience in ten minute sessions, in between playthroughs of larger titles on the Switch. It’s the kind of indie game that does one thing only, and it does it well enough.

Moto Rush Reborn is available now on Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch.

Reviewed on Switch.

A Copy of Moto Rush Reborn was provided by the publisher.